Proclaiming January of 2026, to Be "Firefighter Cancer Awareness Month" in the State of Rhode Island

WHEREAS, Tragically, occupational cancer has surpassed heart disease as the leading line-of-duty cause of death among firefighters. In 2024, more than two-thirds of the firefighters added to the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) National Fallen Fire Fighters Memorial died from occupational cancer; and

WHEREAS, In response to this growing problem, the IAFF and the Firefighter Support Network are teaming up and combining resources to tackle this growing problem and are working tirelessly and striving daily to reduce the impact of cancer on firefighters through better education and prevention resources within fire departments across the nation and with a particular focus on early detection; and

WHEREAS, According to the Firefighter Cancer Support Network, firefighters have a nine percent higher risk of being diagnosed with cancer and a fourteen percent higher risk of dying from cancer than the general United States population citing research conducted by the CDC/National Institute for Occupational Health and Safety (NIOSH). The cancers most responsible for this higher risk are respiratory (lung and mesothelioma), GI (oral cavity, esophageal, large intestine) and kidney; and

WHEREAS, Overall, firefighters have a greater risk of getting certain cancers than the general public with testicular cancer being 2.02 times higher, malignant mesothelioma being times higher, multiple myeloma 1.53 times higher, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma being 1.51 times higher, skin cancer being 1.39 times higher, malignant melanoma being 1.31 times higher, brain cancer being 1.31 times higher, prostate cancer being 1.28 times higher, colon cancer being 1.21 times higher, and leukemia being 1.14 times higher; and

WHEREAS, America's and Rhode Island's firefighters are dedicated public safety professionals who often risk life and limb to protect people's lives and property. They deserve our support and the resources necessary to do everything possible to reduce their greater chances of being diagnosed with and perishing from cancer; now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby proclaims January of 2026, to be "Firefighter Cancer Awareness Month" in the State of Rhode Island; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF).